Principles and Heresies

Professor Zoll [NR, March 10] will allow us only two alternative fates in the years ahead—either the “insurrectionary tyranny of the Left” or the “primitivistic and irrational retaliations of the Right.” And the only role he projects for conservatives, besides opposition to the Left, is to “moderate the potential excesses of a right-wing radicalism.” He goes on to sum up his acceptance of this dilemma as “Toryism,” a remarkable distortion of history, for he would have “Tories” limit themselves to the gentle ministrations of a von Papen or a Hindenburg, ameliorating the excesses of barbarian rightwing radicalism—predictably, with as much success.

It is possible that some day such a harsh and fruitless choice might face Americans; then moral men would have to act as moral Europeans acted faced with the choice between fascism and Communism. But we are far from such a choice. Professor Zoll can congratulate himself upon his “realism and hard- mindedness” and castigate the rest of us for living in “illusion” only by using one of the hoariest tricks in the debater’s kit, the fallacy of the false dilemma.

FS

About the Author

Frank S. Meyer

Frank S. Meyer was a senior editor of National Review.

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Professor Zoll [NR, March 10] will allow us only two alternative fates in the years ahead—either the “insurrectionary tyranny of the Left” or the “primitivistic and irrational retaliations of the Right.” And the only role he projects for conservatives, besides opposition to the Left, is to “moderate the potential excesses of a right-wing radicalism.” He goes on to sum up his acceptance of this dilemma as “Toryism,” a remarkable distortion of history, for he would have “Tories” limit themselves to the gentle ministrations of a von Papen or a Hindenburg, ameliorating the excesses of barbarian rightwing radicalism—predictably, with as much success.

It is possible that some day such a harsh and fruitless choice might face Americans; then moral men would have to act as moral Europeans acted faced with the choice between fascism and Communism. But we are far from such a choice. Professor Zoll can congratulate himself upon his “realism and hard- mindedness” and castigate the rest of us for living in “illusion” only by using one of the hoariest tricks in the debater’s kit, the fallacy of the false dilemma.